Colloidal Iron Stain Service: High-Sensitivity Detection of Acidic Mucins

At iHisto, we offer precise colloidal iron staining for the detection of acid mucins and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) — essential for gastrointestinal, renal, and tumor pathology. Our automated workflow ensures clean, reproducible slides with rapid turnaround and digital accessibility.

🧪Overview

The colloidal iron stain is a sensitive histochemical method that detects acidic polysaccharides such as:

• Sialomucins

• Hyaluronic acid

• Chondroitin sulfates

It surpasses conventional mucin stains in sensitivity and specificity, making it an ideal choice for mucin-rich or diagnostically challenging tissues.

At iHisto, our optimized protocol ensures:

• Clear localization of mucins

• Low background staining

• Consistent results across sample types

⚙️How Colloidal Iron Staining Works

This staining technique uses positively charged ferric colloids to bind acidic tissue components. These iron-bound sites are then developed with Prussian Blue, producing a distinct blue signal at mucin-rich regions.

Targets include:

• Sialomucins – in gastrointestinal and respiratory epithelium

• Hyaluronic acid – in connective tissue

• GAGs – in glomeruli, tumor matrix, and extracellular structures

A nuclear counterstain (e.g., nuclear fast red) is applied to enhance cellular contrast.

🧬Staining Protocol at a Glance

• Tissue Preparation
  Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue is sectioned onto slides.

• Deparaffinization & Hydration
  Slides are rehydrated through xylene and graded alcohols into distilled water.

• Colloidal Iron Staining
  A working ferric colloid solution is applied to bind acid mucins.

• Prussian Blue Development
  Potassium ferrocyanide and hydrochloric acid react with bound iron to produce blue deposits.

• Counterstaining
  Nuclear fast red is used for cellular detail.

• Coverslipping
  Slides are dehydrated, cleared, and coverslipped for long-term preservation.

🔬Applications of Colloidal Iron Stain

This stain is ideal when PAS or Alcian Blue lack the sensitivity required for subtle mucin detection.

Common applications include:

• Gastrointestinal biopsies – for sialomucin detection in metaplasia

• Renal pathology – glomerular GAG evaluation

• Tumor analysis – mucin-secreting adenocarcinomas

• Connective tissue studies – cartilage and extracellular matrix assessment

✅ Why Choose iHisto’s Colloidal Iron Staining

• ✅ High sensitivity for detecting acidic mucins and GAGs

• ✅ Optimized protocols with minimal background noise

• ✅ Fully automated processing for reproducibility

• ✅ Optional board-certified pathologist review

• ✅ Digital slide scanning included for easy access and sharing

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• What does colloidal iron stain detect?
  Acid mucins, sialomucins, hyaluronic acid, and other GAGs.

• How does it compare to PAS or Alcian Blue?
  Colloidal iron is more specific for acidic mucins and less influenced by neutral sugars.

• Can I request combined protocols?
  Yes — we offer custom combinations with H&E, PAS, Alcian Blue, Trichrome, etc.

• Is this service compatible with digital workflows?
  Absolutely. All slides can be scanned and delivered online.

📩 Request a Quote or Consultation

Whether you're profiling mucins in GI biopsies or screening tumors, iHisto provides expert colloidal iron staining with fast turnaround and digital delivery.

👉 Request a Quote or email us at info@ihisto.io